[8] Before joining the legislature, Salceda was the Research Director of UBS Warburg (a division of Swiss Bank Corporation).

He was voted by foreign fund managers in Asiamoney's Annual Survey as "Best Analyst" in 1995 and "Best Economist" for four consecutive years from 1993 to 1996.

After resigning from the Arroyo Cabinet in 2007, Salceda ran for Governor of Albay and was subsequently elected, defeating incumbent Fernando V.

[17] His three terms as governor were best known for his establishment of the zero-casualty doctrine in disaster preparedness[18] for which he earned international recognition as a Senior Global Champion for disaster risk reduction by the United Nations[19] as well as his climate change advocacy, which eventually led to him being elected as the first Asian co-chair of the United Nations Green Climate Fund in 2013.

[25] As RDC Chairman, Salceda established the AlMaSor regional tourism alliance, with Albay, Masbate, and Sorsogon as its constituent provinces.

[27] After three terms as Governor, Salceda returned to Congress as Representative of the 2nd district of Albay in 2016,[28] where he is credited for articulating the economic strategy "Dutertenomics[29]" as well as for championing the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN law.

[30] Salceda, as principal author, also defended the Free College Tuition law[31] from its critics in Cabinet, who sought its veto.